| Dhee | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Ravishankar Venkateswaran |
| Written by | Tony Madathil[1] |
| Based on | Fictional Asteroid world where everyone speaks Sanskrit |
| Cinematography | Prathap P Nair[1] |
| Edited by | Manoj Kannoth[1] |
| Layouts by | Girish AV[1] |
Production companies | Puppetica Media |
Release date | 2027 (expected) |
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Sanskrit |
| Budget | ₹12-15 crores |
Dhee is an upcoming Indian Sanskrit-language animated science fiction film directed by Ravishankar Venkateswaran and produced by Puppetica Media, the names behind the earlier Sanskrit animated feature Punyakoti. It is billed as the first science fiction film made entirely in the Sanskrit language.[2][3]
Etymology[edit | edit source]
Dhee (धीः) is a feminine word which literally means intellect.[4] It is formed by combining verbal root ध्यै with the suffix क्विप् in impersonal voice.[5] It is denoted as ध्यायत्यनया, meaning Dhee is an instrument of meditation or focus.[6] It is present in Gayatri Mantra as धियो (accusative plural).[7]
Synopsis[edit | edit source]
The film is set in a world where the inhabitants exclusively speak Sanskrit. The story follows a young, diffident girl named Dhee who embarks on a quest to save her home asteroid from dark forces and restore light to it. Throughout her journey to lead her tribe, she undergoes a psychological transformation, overcomes her personal limitations, and discovers her true identity. [8] According to the director, Dhee's journey is intended as a metaphorical reflection of India rediscovering its own cultural roots.[8]
Production[edit | edit source]
Following the release of Punyakoti (2020), which was India's first Sanskrit-language animated feature film, director Ravishankar Venkateswaran and the animation studio Puppetica Media announced Dhee.[2][9] Venkateswaran noted that the film aims to present new ideas and promote the Sanskrit language through visual storytelling.[8]
The film's pre-production was officially announced in September 2025. While it is a Sanskrit-language production, the technical crew and artists primarily consist of Malayalis from the state of Kerala.[10] The animation process is supported by advanced animation technologies and integrates traditional techniques with artificial intelligence.[3] As of late 2025, the film was in its early stages of development, with the studio actively seeking co-producers and OTT partners from India and abroad to assist with production and distribution.[11]
The filmmakers plan to release Dhee with primary audio in Sanskrit, alongside subtitles and dubbed versions in multiple languages for a wider audience reach.[8]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Dhee ധീ". Mallu Release. Retrieved 27 September 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 ഋതു നായർ. "ആദ്യ സംസ്കൃതഭാഷ സയൻസ് ഫിക്ഷൻ അനിമേഷൻ സിനിമ ധീ! രവിശങ്കറിന്റെ സംവിധാനത്തിൽ പ്രേക്ഷകരിലേക്ക്". Samayam Malayalam (in മലയാളം). Retrieved 25 September 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "ധീ: മലയാളി കൂട്ടായ്മയിൽ സംസ്കൃത ഭാഷയിലൊരുക്കുന്ന ആദ്യ സയൻസ് ഫിക്ഷൻ അനിമേഷൻ സിനിമ" [Dhee: The first science fiction animated film in Sanskrit by a Malayali collective]. News18 Malayalam (in Malayalam). September 27, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ↑ "Dhi, Dhī: 31 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org.
- ↑ Apte, Vaman Shivaram (1957–1959). Revised and enlarged edition of Prin. V. S. Apte's The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary. Prasad Prakashan. p. 597.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date format (link) - ↑ Gopalacharya, Chakravarti Srinivasa. Sabdartha Kausthubha ( Sanskrit Kannada Dictionary) Sahitya Vidwan Sri Chakravarti Srinivasa Gopalacharya. p. 1467.
- ↑ M.Ram Murty (7 December 2012). Indian Philosophy: An Introduction. Broadview Press. p. 15. ISBN 9781770483859.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Dhee". Puppetica Media. Retrieved September 27, 2026.
- ↑ Team, AnimationXpress (13 September 2025). "Puppetica Media announces India's first Sanskrit sci-fi animated film 'Dhee' -". Retrieved 27 September 2026.
- ↑ "'ധീ'; സംസ്കൃതഭാഷയിലെ ആദ്യ സയൻസ് ഫിക്ഷൻ അനിമേഷൻ സിനിമയുമായി പപ്പറ്റിക്ക മീഡിയ" ['Dhee'; Puppetica Media with the first science fiction animated film in Sanskrit]. Madhyamam (in Malayalam). September 25, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ↑ "Dhee Movie Begins, The first science fiction animated film in Sanskrit, Produced by Puppetica Media". Kerala TV. September 25, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2026.